Qatar Airways has taken three planes to the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom and is spruiking its strong financial performance and network expansion. The Doha-based airline flew a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a Boeing 777-300ER, and a Gulfstream G650ER into the Hampshire airport as CEO Akbar Al Baker stoked the rumor mill, suggesting a further Boeing 777X order was on the cards.
Qatar Airways takes three planes to Farnborough
The first of the three planes on the ground at Farnborough is the 787-9 Dreamliner. Qatar Airways says this particular plane has never previously been displayed at an air show. The aircraft entered service with the airline in 2021 and features the new Adient Ascent business class suite, equipped with sliding privacy doors, wireless mobile device charging, and a 79-inch lie-flat bed.
Also touching down is Qatar Airways' distinctive 777-300ER aircraft with its special FIFA World Cup 2022 Livery. Doha is hosting the soccer festival later this year, an event Akbar Al Baker welcomes but also has said will push the carrier to its operational limits. He adds that over November and December, Qatar Airways will flip from a hub and spoke airline to a point-to-point airline.
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The third Qatar aircraft to travel to Farnborough is an interesting one. The Gulfstream G650ER is from the airline's private jet charter division. Qatar Airways says the plane boasts outstanding range capabilities, industry-leading cabin technology, fuel efficiency, and unparalleled passenger comfort. Just how much business it does, the airline isn't saying.
"It has been a few years since we have been able to attend such an event, so it is great to return to this year's Farnborough Air Show in our strongest ever financial position," says Mr Al Baker. "Our record-breaking financial year with a $1.54 billion profit comes at an important milestone for Qatar Airways, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and look forward to bringing hundreds of thousands of football fans to Doha for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022."
Qatar Airways mulls boosting its 777X order
Meanwhile, while the aerial eye candy attracted plenty of attention on the first day in Farnborough, the big news out of the Qatar Airways camp was that the airline was potentially eyeing increasing its Boeing 777X order. The airline has 74 of the planes on order with Boeing. However, the 777X is years behind schedule and mired down in production and certification issues.
"We will even give them a bigger order," Bloomberg has Mr Al Baker telling reporters on Monday, while not providing any further details. The mercurial Al Baker is a specialist in throwing out little tidbits like this. It keeps the airline in the headlines. The comment also acts as a shot across the bows at Airbus. Qatar Airways is locked in litigation with the Toulouse plane builder over surface problems on some Airbus A350 aircraft. In response, Airbus has been canceling Qatar Airways orders.
While this might sound like a big win for Boeing - and the Chicago-based plane builder needs a few wins, Mr Al Baker's comments must be taken with a grain of salt. Bloomberg also reports Qatar Airways has quietly let an MOU for 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets lapse. Boeing might have an advantage at Qatar Airways compared to Airbus right now, but the airline's CEO isn't doing Boeing any special favors beyond some typical Al Baker-style boosterism.
Source: Bloomberg